Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

FAIRFAX, Va. –After suffering their first loss in Colonial Athletic Association play, the University of Delaware volleyball team rebounded with an impressive effort against George Mason as the Blue Hens swept the Patriots, 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-22), on Saturday afternoon at the RAC gymnasium.

Refusing to let yesterday’s setback have any lingering effect, Delaware (15-6, 8-1 CAA) capitalized on impressive team effort to post the victory. The squad combined to hit a stellar .347 and committed just six attack errors during the three-set sweep. It marked the team’s third-highest hitting percentage of the season and the finest during a CAA bout.

Alissa Alker (at right) led the way, hitting .647 after firing 11 kills on just 17 swings without a single error. Kim Stewart also blasted 14 kills during the contest, while Michelle LaLonde and Katie Dennehy chipped in with eight apiece.

In the early part of the first set, neither squad could take control of the frame. A back-and-forth battle broke out that eventually resulted in 18 ties during the opening stanza. Alker and Paige Erickson paid dividends for the Hens from the outset as the two combined for three early kills and a pair of blocks on the way to an 8-8 deadlock.

Later, Stewart blasted three winners and Erickson chipped in with another block and kill to give the team a 16-15 lead. Although it was a modest one-point advantage, it proved to be insurmountable as George Mason (17-7, 6-3) could never completely overcome the deficit.

Alker ripped two more kills and LaLonde uncorked three lasers of her own to give the squad set-point at 24-21. With the win in sight, Steph Barry unloaded an ace to clinch the opening set victory on the very next rally.

With a nice tailwind heading into the second frame, the Blue Hens remained on point. The squad quickly grabbed the first five rallies, aided by two kills from Dennehy and a Stewart ace. After that, Delaware never let the lead slip out of its grasp. Although Mason fought back to within one on three occasions, the Patriots could not overcome their counterparts.

After the hosts’ mid-set effort brought the score to 12-11, the Hens responded in kind. A pair of GMU miscues gave Delaware some breathing room before the squad ran away at the end of the frame. The Hens grabbed four straight rallies, including kills by Stewart and Alker, to take a 19-13 advantage. Later, Stewart tallied three more blasts and Alker chipped in with another to give the team a two-set lead with a 25-16 victory in the second frame.

In the third set, Mason used a five-point streak to take an early 5-2 advantage. Staring at their largest deficit of the match, the Blue Hens leaned on Stewart to bring the team back. The sophomore standout ripped a kill and ace on consecutive rallies to eventually even-up the frame at five.

After the Patriots came back to earn a two-point lead, the hosts held it there until 10-8. Following that rally, Delaware regained its footing. During the resurgence, setter Jess Chason spread the ball around well as Alker, Dennehy Erickson, LaLonde and Stewart all found openings and picked up kills on the way to a 15-13 lead.

Although Mason eventually tied the set, Delaware remained unfazed. Erickson and Dennehy teamed up for a block and Alker launched two straight winners to help give the team a three-point cushion.

In the waning moments of the match, GMU regrouped for one last-ditch effort, pulling back to within one at 23-22. However, Dennehy put an end to that surge with a kill to give the squad match-point at 24-22. Following a Patriot timeout, Barry quickly ended the contest with her second ace of the bout.

Barry eventually finished with a match-high 20 digs, while Chason had 41 assists. Erickson also picked up a team-high four blocks, including a solo stop.

George Mason was led by Noelle Fanella, who had 13 kills and 12 digs. Holly Goode also posted a double-double, notching 11 kills, 11 digs, and three blocks.